Steering-gear



No. 626,483. Patented June 6, i899.

- L. BROWN.

STEERING GEAR.

(Application filed Feb. 16, 1899.]

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet I.

Q%\ j Oil-LL H v w ATTORNEY No. 626,483. Patented June 6, I899.

L. BROWN.

STEERING GEAR.

(Applicatiun filed Feb. 16, 1699.)

(No Model.)

2 ShaetsSheet 2.

WITNESSES: VENTOR Aawzz/ UNTTED STATES PATENT EEICE.

LEONARD BROIVN, OF OTTERBEIN, INDIANA.

STEERING-GEAR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 626,483, dated June 6,1899.

Application filed February 16,1899. Serial No- 705,602. (No model.)

- zen of the United States, residing at Otterbein,

in the county of Benton and State of Indiana,- have invented a certainnew and useful Improvement in Steering-Gears, of which the following isa specification.

My invention relates to the improvement of steering-gears of that classwhich are adapted for changing the course of the forward wheels of arunning-gear, my invention being particularly adapted for use inconnection with the running-gear of portable engines.

The objects of my invention are to provide a simple, reliable, andconvenient mechanism whereby the course of the engine or other body withwhich my steering-gear is used may be readily and easily changed orcontrolled, to so construct the same as to admit of making a quick sharpturn of the forward wheels of a running-gear, and to produce otherimprovements in details of construction and arrangement of parts, whichwill be more clearly pointed out hereinafter. These objects I accomplishin the manner illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure1 is a view in perspective showing my improved steering apparatusconnected with the forward portion of a running-gear. Fig. 2 is an innerface view of the steering gear-operating stand, showing for the sake ofclearness a portion of the steering-gear wheel removed. Fig. 3 is anouter side view of said stand. Fig. 4 is a central sectional viewthrough one of the axle-bearings; and Fig. 5 is a central sectional viewin detail of a pivotal bracket, which is adapted to connect the rearportion of a steering-gear with the body of an engine or other bodycarried by a running-gear.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughoutthe several views.

In carrying out my invention I provide a forward running-gear truck ofimproved construction, the front wheels of the runninggear-being omittedtherefrom for the sake of clearness in illustration. Of this truck 1 and2 represent upper and lower parallel bolsterplates, the extremities ofwhich are united by vertical bolts, each of these bolts passing looselyand centrally through a vertical sleeve 4, the lower end of which bearsupon the lower bolster-plate 2 and the upper conical end of which isloosely embraced by a bearing-ballretaining cap 5, between which and theupper together with the spindle, normally eXtend-' ing in the directionof the lengths of the bolster-sections. Vith the central portion of theupper bolster-section 1 I provide oppositelylocated journal bearings orboxings 9, through which passes a journal rod or shaft 10, 011 which ismounted the sleeve or cylindrical lower portions of the desired numberof attaching-brackets 11, the upper portions of which are of suitableform to admit of their attachment to any body which may be carried on arunning-gearsuch, for instance, as the boiler of an engine.

At a point in rear of the central portion of the front bolster I providea rear attaching shoe or bracket 12, the upper portion of which is alsoof a suitable shape to admit of its being bolted, riveted, or otherwiseattached to said engine-boiler or other body, the construction of saidbracket being shown more clearly in Fig. 5 of the drawings andconsisting in the attaching-head 13, provided with a central dependingtubular portion 14, which serves as a socket to loosely receive anupwardly-extending tubular bearing projection 15, which is formed at thecenter of the length of a transverse lever or walking-beam 16, saidwalking-beam being further connected with said bracket through themedium of a central bolt 17, said tubular projection 15 of the beambeing journaled on said bolt. As indicated at 18 I provideconnecting-rods, the ends of which are jointedly and respectivelyconnected with the outer ends of the beam 16 and the ends of thearms 8.

19 represents a platform or flooring, which opening of said platform,said wheel being connected with one of the steering-gear rods 18 throughthe medium of an operating-rod 22, the rear end of the latter beingeccentrically connected with one side of the wheel and the forward endof said rod being, through the medium of a vertical arm 23, connectedwith one of said steering-rods 18.

24 represents a pawl-carrying hand-lever, the lower end portion of whichis fulcrumed to the framework 19 on the outer side of the wheel 20. Thiswheel has pivoted to oppositely-located lateral extensions thereof andat-points immediately above the toothed wheel 20 front and rear pawls25, the tapering ends of which are adapted to be engaged with the teethof the wheel 20 on opposite sides of its center. Pivoted at 26 to thelever 24 is the lower end of a smaller pawl-controllinglever 27, thelower end portion of the latter being jointedly connected on oppositesides of its center with upper extensions of the pawls 25 through themedium of short bars or links 28. Through the medium of a suitablespring 25 the pawls 25 are normally retained in engagement with theteeth of the wheel 20 when said lever 27 is extending in the directionof the length of the hand-lever 24. The upper portion of the hand-lever24 has fulcrumed thereto a suitable form of spring-actuated finger-lever29, with a projection of which is join tedly connected the upper end ofa bar 30 and the lower end of which connects with and is adapted tocontrol the vertical movement of a stop-pawl 31', which moves insuitable keepers 32 on the rear side of the lever 24 and has its lowerend engaging the desired tooth or notch of a gearsegment 33, which risesfrom said platform or frame 19 on the outer side of the lever 24.

The operation and manner of utilizing my improved steering-gear aresubstantially as follows: Under the construction shown in the drawingsit is obvious that when the pawlcontrolling lever 27 is in a verticalposition or extending in the direction of the length of the lever 24both of the pawls 25 may engage teeth of the wheel 20 and that aforwardmovement of the lever 24 must result in turning said wheel forwardly andin the front bolster and spindle being so moved as to turn the frontwheels of the running-gear, which are mounted on said spindle to theright. It is also true that when this motion is reversed the forwardtruck will have been turned toward the left. Assuming, however, that itis desirous of imparting a decided turn of the forward truck to theright, the controlling-lever 27 is first moved forwardly until the rearpawl 24 is out of engagement or contact with the wheel 20. This beingaccomplished, it will readily be seen that a repeatedforward-andbackward movement of the lever 24 must result in moving saidfront truck in the one direction only. It is obvious that in order tomake a decided turn of the front truck to the left the lever 27 may beturned rearwardly until the forward truck 25 is out of engagement withthe wheel 20, the power to move said wheel being thus limited to therear pawl 25 in the rearward motion or movement of the lever 24. It willreadily be seen that the stoppawl 31 may in the usual manner be made toengage the desired tooth of the gear-segment for the purpose of holdingthe front truck in any position to which it has been previously moved bythe operation of said lever 24.

It will be observed that the swinging movement of the front bolster,whereby the front wheels of the running-gear may be turned to the rightor left, is facilitated by the jointed connection between the arms 8 ofthe spintile-sleeves and the horizontal beam 16, the latter beingadapted to swing on its pivotal bolt 17. It is also evident that theba1l-bearing connection between the spindle-sleeves and upperbolster-section must add greatly to the ease of operation.

Through the hinged or fulcrumed connection of the front bolster with thebody of the engine or other object to be carried it will be seen thatsuch slight tipping movement as the front trucks may ordinarily besubjected to by running over uneven surfaces may be attained withoutimparting said movement to the engine or other body supported thereby,the connections between the arms 8 and beams 16 not being sufficientlyrigid to contribute this slight movement to said body.

From the construction and operation herein described it will be seenthat simple, reliable, and effective means are provided, wherebya turnof the forward truck of a running-gear may be readily effected in eitherdirection by one movement of the pawl-carrying lever and whereby adecided movement in either direction may be readily accomplished througha backward -and-forward movement of said hand-lever. It will also beseen that the con struction of my improved steeringgear is such as toadmit of a change in direction being effected with sufficient rapidityto admit of the turning of sharp corners and that the parts are soconstructed and connected as to require but a comparatively small amountof power to operate the same.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, -is

1. In a steering-gear, the combination with a forward running-gearbolster having central attaching-brackets and a journaled connectiontherewith and wheel-spindles having a swinging connection with saidbolster ends, of a fulcrumed hand-lever 24, pawls carried on oppositesides thereof, a journaled and toothed wheel with which said pawls areadapted to engage, and an operating-rod eccentrically connected withsaid toothed wheel and with said swinging spindles, substantially asspecified.

2. In a steering-gear, the combination with a fulcrumed lever 24,spring-actuated pivoted pawls carried at opposite points on said lever,

a fulcrum ed pawl-controlling lever 27 on said lever 24 and a jointedconnection between said pawls and lever 27, of a journaled wheel withthe teeth of which said pawls are adapted to engage, an operating-rodeccentrically connected with said toothed Wheel, a forward running-gearbolster and Wheel carrying spindles and connections between saidspindles i and said operating-rod whereby the movement of the latterimparts a movement to said to spindles, substantially as specified.

LEONARD BROWN.

In presence of- WILLIAM E. WACHTEL, P. H. TULLEY.

